Tales from Tokyo: ‘I lost my grandfather to Covid-19 – I hope I made him proud’

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Laurence Roos and Fil Rouge at the Tokyo Olympics.
Laurence Roos and Fil Rouge at the Tokyo Olympics.
(Image credit: Peter Nixon)

Belgian rider Laurence Roos had good reason to feel emotional as she finished her post-test interview following her grand prix at the Tokyo Olympics on Fil Rouge.

“I lost my grandfather, who bought Fil Rouge for me – he died of Covid-19. So I hope I made him very proud today,” she said.

Pippa Roome
Pippa Roome
Magazine editor and eventing editor

Pippa is a true eventing geek and has been H&H’s eventing editor since 2005. She has first-hand experience of competing up to British Eventing intermediate and international CCI2*-L level, and has worked in the industry on a top event yard. Pippa enjoys nothing more than immersing herself in the sport at the highest level, reporting from the five-stars and international championships, including the Olympics.